Thursday, June 6, 2013

Final Defendant in Idaho Meth Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to Life in Prison

BOISE – Jim Allen Loveland, 58, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Boise to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Loveland to serve 10 years of supervised release.Loveland was convicted by a federal jury on January 22, 2013, along with co-conspirators Jesus Guadalupe Sanchez, a/k/a Jose Salazar, and Michael Dennis Morris. According to evidence presented during the six-day trial, Loveland, Sanchez and Morris were convicted of conspiring with others, including co-defendants, to distribute a total of approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine in Canyon, Payette and Washington counties between November 2011 and May 16, 2012.Prior to Loveland’s jury trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a court filing, notified Loveland that he had two prior felony drug offense convictions, one out of Nevada in 1999 and the other out of Idaho in 1985. Because of these prior convictions, Loveland was sentenced to a mandatory life sentence, which is required by federal statute.Ten co-defendants sentenced earlier include:

Jesus Guadalupe Sanchez, a/k/a Jose Salazar, 32, a Mexican national, the leader and organizer of the conspiracy, was sentenced in April 2013 to 400 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Michael Dennis Morris, 42, of Weiser, Idaho, was sentenced in April 2013 to 156 months in prison and fined $2,000 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Dawson Lee Moore, 60, also of Weiser, was sentenced in March 2013 to 36 months in prison and fined $1,000 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Benjamine L. Vertner, 34, of Ontario, Oregon, was sentenced in February 2013 to 138 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Jacob James Clevenger, 31, of Weiser, was sentenced in February 2013 to 188 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Kristopher Hensley, a/k/a Casey (I.C.) Hensley, 27, of Weiser, was sentenced in February 2013 to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Johnny A. Tambunga, 40, of Weiser, was sentenced in February 2013 to 47 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Mario Martinez, Jr., 55, of Greenleaf, Idaho, was sentenced in February to 57 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Fabian Jordano Beltran, 24, of Weiser, was sentenced in February to 36 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Patric Campbell, 36, of Boise, was sentenced in February 2013 124 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

“These drug traffickers well deserve the lengthy sentences the Court imposed,” said Olson. “This outstanding investigation and prosecution demonstrate that federal, state and local law enforcement will work together in all parts of Idaho to ensure that those who seek to poison our communities with this poisonous drug are caught, prosecuted and punished.”The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).